Journal article
New evidence links changing shelf phytoplankton communities to boundary currents in southeast Tasmania
Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Vol.24(2), pp.427-442
2014
Abstract
Southern Tasmanian shelf waters are host to the seasonal interplay of Australia's two poleward boundary currents; the East Australian Current (EAC) and the Leeuwin Current (LC). While the behaviour and properties of the LC remain underexplored, strong research focus has allowed insight into how an intensifying EAC has created greater subtropical influence, leading to changes in the physical and biological oceanography of the region. In this cool temperate setting seven species of dinoflagellates, all in the genus Ceratium, which are more typically associated with warm waters of eastern Australia, were observed. This coincided with the seasonal increase in the EAC's southward penetration beginning in October. Despite the seasonal peak in EAC activity, temperature-salinity plots, nutrient, chlorophyll a and phytoplankton concentrations all indicate the presence of subantarctic waters on the shelf and in coastal waters in summer. Our results are consistent with the description of the EAC as an erratic, eddy-driven current; this itself allowing the periodic influx of subantarctic waters across the shelf. In winter, temperature-salinity plots and nutrient concentrations indicate that the LC was present in southern shelf waters. In addition to its high nitrate signature, the LC displayed low silicate properties in southern Tasmania. Chlorophyll a concentrations revealed a distinct spring bloom event and an extended, productive summer, typical of temperate and subantarctic systems, respectively. This suggests the region is a transitional state between classic seasonal primary production cycles for temperate and subantarctic waters. This paper links changes in southern Tasmanian microphytoplankton communities to shelf ventilation by the EAC, the LC and subantarctic waters, and provides new insight into the oceanography of the region. Consequently, this study provides an awareness of potential phytoplankton perturbations that may be applied to other coastal cool temperate marine environments.
Details
- Title
- New evidence links changing shelf phytoplankton communities to boundary currents in southeast Tasmania
- Authors/Creators
- P.J. Buchanan (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityK.M. Swadling (Author/Creator) - Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesR.S. Eriksen (Author/Creator) - Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesK. Wild-Allen (Author/Creator) - CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere
- Publication Details
- Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Vol.24(2), pp.427-442
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands
- Identifiers
- 991005540131707891
- Copyright
- © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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Source: InCites
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.2 Marine Biology
- 3.2.154 Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Web Of Science research areas
- Fisheries
- Marine & Freshwater Biology
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science